Page 114 of SNOB

“Of course, he didn’t,” Hannah pipes in, pulling down another nude.

“He somehow got me out that day I got arrested and told me to lay low. So I went to my dad’s house in the mountains. My profs were totally okay with me learning from home and in fact, it helped a lot. It was scary, but then everything felt better. I… I thought you knew.”

I wanted you to trust me.

My shoulders drop, a weight lifting off me.

He took care of everything.

Always does. “I’m glad I know now.” Hugging Greta again makes me feel close to him, like I just got a secret message.

Greta smiles, releasing me. “I’m sorry I told you to stay away from Mac. I think you guys might be good for each other.”

“That’s what I said!” Hannah pipes in again.

Greta’s head turns to Hannah, another awkward silence overtaking us. After all Hannah's apologies, it's easy to break the ice. “Okay, Hannah, why do you bully Greta?”

“Really?” Hannah pulls down the last nude on the wall with force. “Not surprised you never told the Vall…” Her voice trails as she glances at me with crumpled nudes in my hand. “Ember the truth.” She takes a big breath. “Should you, or will I?” Glancing at Greta, she looks at the ground. “Fine. She fucked Gray when we were dating.”

Woah.

“You weren’t together,” Greta says, her voice quiet.

“I’m so not having this conversation.” Hannah grabs the nudes out of my hand before she looks me in the eye. “Thanks, Ember.” Her posse joins her, crumpled paper in their hands. “See you around.” With an actual smile, she makes her way into the quad, posse following.

“So, has Hannah dated all the Crowns?” I ask, Greta still beside me.

Greta laughs, “Not Ryung. At least not yet.”

“And you! Gray Whitney? I thought you told me to stay away from the Crowns!”

Greta looks down at her feet again. “It’s a really long story.” She cringes. “I’m just happy you’re still here.”

Though I’m not sure I want to be. Not without him.

Talking about the Crowns without Mac feels weird. This entire place feels off without him.

Greta and I walk through the quad, quieter than usual. She catches me up on all I’ve missed but everything sounds muffled, that haze overtaking me again.

“I love you, Butterfly.”

“Thank you for giving me purpose.”

“I’m not clipping your wings anymore.”

Thing is, they’re clipped without him.

“When does Mac get out of rehab?” Greta’s last sentence jolts me out of my thoughts.

“Rehab?” My brows knit, a jolt to my chest. “Mac’s in rehab? Not in jail?”

“Uh, yeah?” Her head tilts. “Beau’s mom couldn’t put him behind bars and since alcohol was at play that night, she told the judge to send him to rehab instead. I thought you knew.”

A weight lifts off my chest and I do the first thing that comes to mind. I throw my arms around Greta and squeeze. She makes a sound as if I’m hugging the life out of her but I don’t care. That night with Mrs. Robinson paid off. “I didn’t know what was happening.”

“You’ll always know what’s happening in Paradise Hill if you listen close enough. It’s been the talk of the town.”

“I’ve been… a little out of it. How long is he there?”

---